MarkStudden
New User
As we are lucky enough to live within a mile or so of Badminton, we
don't pay much attention to the challenge of getting in each year - it's
just along the road. However, this year our local knowledge may help to
save visitors who have come from further afield from having a
frustrating time getting to the venue on the Saturday.
About 5 miles away from Badminton, at Castle Combe, the race track holds
one event each year that attracts many thousands of visitors in their
own cars; it's called "Japfest", and each year it blocks several of the
local roads up with apparently endless queues of petrolhead exotica for
much of the morning and middle of the day. The procession of souped-up
Japanese sports cars winds through long sections of the B4039 that comes
in from the A420 near Chippenham, and of the B4040 and Tormarton roads
that come in from the A46 near Junction 18 of the M4.
As readers who have been to the area before may recognise, both of these
minor roads would normally be approach roads for the Horse Trials too.
So we were recently surprised to see, on local traffic signs, the news
that "Japfest" this year is happening on Saturday 10th May;
cross-country day at Badminton. These events usually do not clash, and I
cannot imagine why they are both scheduled for the same day this year;
it seems like madness, and would suggest that the road chaos could be
worse than ever for anyone trying to get to either event along those
routes.
You have been warned; plan carefully, study that road map before you set
off, and take it with you! GPS will be of little benefit if my fears
prove justified.
don't pay much attention to the challenge of getting in each year - it's
just along the road. However, this year our local knowledge may help to
save visitors who have come from further afield from having a
frustrating time getting to the venue on the Saturday.
About 5 miles away from Badminton, at Castle Combe, the race track holds
one event each year that attracts many thousands of visitors in their
own cars; it's called "Japfest", and each year it blocks several of the
local roads up with apparently endless queues of petrolhead exotica for
much of the morning and middle of the day. The procession of souped-up
Japanese sports cars winds through long sections of the B4039 that comes
in from the A420 near Chippenham, and of the B4040 and Tormarton roads
that come in from the A46 near Junction 18 of the M4.
As readers who have been to the area before may recognise, both of these
minor roads would normally be approach roads for the Horse Trials too.
So we were recently surprised to see, on local traffic signs, the news
that "Japfest" this year is happening on Saturday 10th May;
cross-country day at Badminton. These events usually do not clash, and I
cannot imagine why they are both scheduled for the same day this year;
it seems like madness, and would suggest that the road chaos could be
worse than ever for anyone trying to get to either event along those
routes.
You have been warned; plan carefully, study that road map before you set
off, and take it with you! GPS will be of little benefit if my fears
prove justified.
